LAKEPORT — The Lake County Board of Supervisors (BOS), sitting as the board of directors of the Lake County Redevelopment Agency, indicated support for Marymount College”s proposal to use the Lucerne Hotel as an educational campus at its Tuesday meeting.
Kelly Cox, county administrator and executive director of the redevelopment agency, presented a proposed agreement between the county and Marymount College, a private liberal arts university with three campuses in Southern California.
Cox said college officials were looking to expand into a rural area and were enthusiastic about being in Lake County. He added that Marymount”s president, Michael Brophy, has begun to contact the area community colleges, Mendocino College and Yuba College”s Clear Lake Campus, to coordinate a curriculum to properly serve Lake County college students.
“It would be a great fit for Lake County,” Cox said.
Many on the board agreed with Cox”s sentiment. Supervisor Denise Rushing said she had met Brophy and was “very impressed” with his commitment to the Lake County community. Supervisor Jeff Smith said he was so excited by the college”s proposal that he had “chills up (his) spine.”
Cox said an obstacle threatens the plan. The state of California has put the fate of local redevelopment agencies in jeopardy because of budget cuts. Cox wanted to make sure the county would still invest in the plan if the redevelopment agency is eliminated.
Supervisor Anthony Farrington agreed with Cox and asked him if the supervisors could do anything to let the college know they would support a plan if the redevelopment agency is eliminated. Cox said the board could draft a letter to let Brophy know of the BOS”s intent to support the plan if the redevelopment agency is eliminated.
Redevelopment agency staff recommended approving the selection of Marymount College”s proposal, authorizing Cox to enter into formal negotiations with the college and approving travel expenses for Lucerne Hotel Task Force members Wally Holbrook, County Superintendent of Schools, and Wilda Shock to visit Marymount College.
The board unanimously approved the three recommendations. The board also unanimously approved having county staff draft a letter to Brophy indicating BOS support of the proposal if the redevelopment agency should be eliminated.
Kevin N. Hume can be reached at kevin.n.hume@gmail.com or call directly 263-5636 ext. 14.
